Senator, Would You Be Ok With an All White Court? Really?

If all else were equal, would you prefer to have a Court made up of nine white men from similar backgrounds, or a Court that includes men and women of various hues and from a variety of backgrounds?
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Here's what I'd ask the Republican senators who are questioning Sotomayor about that line in her speech:

Senator, would you be ok with an all white, all male Court?

That is, if all else were equal, Senator, would you prefer to have a Supreme Court made up of nine white men from similar backgrounds, or a Court that includes men and women, people of various hues, and people from a variety of backgrounds?

If you're ok, Senator, with a lily-white, male Court, you may sit down. Thank you.

If, however, you agree we are better now for having some diversity among our justices, then don't you therefore also agree that "a difference there will be by the presence of women and people of color on the bench"? Don't you agree that diversity strengths the Court — makes it wiser — because it brings different points of view to bear? So, Senator, you agree that one's background affects one's judgment, and that we are better off having multiple life-experiences represented on the Court.

So, Senator, don't you think it's a great for the Court to have, say, a wise Latina woman in the discussions?

Me, too!

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